Bridging the World Language Divide: Morgan State University Philosopher Publishes New Groundbreaking Multilingual Glossary

Book cover and author, Dr. Zekeh S. Gbotokuma

Nationwide — A Polyglot Pocket Dictionary of Lingála, English, French and Italian by Dr. Zekeh S. Gbotokuma is a glossary that allows readers to appreciate positive diversity and interculturalism through multilingualism. Building on, and referring to, the author’s experiences of studying and living in Africa, Europe, and the USA as a series of transits, transitions, and translations, it urges the readers to enhance their global competency and brain power.

It also challenges them to seek ‘Cosmocitizenship’ or global citizenship through a Babel-like experience, that is, the study of world languages and cultures. To this end, it shares enlightening reflections on the numerous benefits of multilingualism, and allows the readers to develop basic language skills in Lingála, English, French, and Italian. As such, in addition to the glossary, this work also contains key facts about the languages at hand, as well as useful phrases, weekdays, numbers, and elements of grammar.

In the Dictionary’s Preface, Dr. Eyamba G. Bokamba, a Professor of Linguistics, African Languages, French and Italian at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, praises the work as follows, “As any book author knows, production of a publication of this magnitude demands considerable time, planning and meticulous attention to details. Guided by his own experience, Dr. Gbotokuma has produced here an accessible and highly informative pocket dictionary that is thoughtfully structured to optimize the learner’s benefits. Unlike similar reference tools that are published under various topical titles (e. g., “compact”, and “concise” dictionary), the glossary in this one is preceded by a rich introduction, containing a summary of the language’s grammar, greetings (which are must and the starting point of any communication in Lingála and other African languages), and many other practical expressions, including forms of address, requests, days of the week, numbers, etc. As such, it can be used as a quick reference in a formal class or self-instruction on Lingála.”

He continues, “In fact, it fills a major gap in Lingála references tools for new teachers of Lingála who may not have access to any comparable or comprehensive bilingual dictionary combining it with any of the targeted three languages here. I wish I had this type of resource during my days as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at my alma mater, or when I assumed the directorship of the Program in African Languages at my present university that contained a large program on Lingála.”

In today’s competitive, globalized, and spider’s web-like village, it pays to be internationally and culturally competent. It pays to “speak in tongues.” Don’t limit yourself to one language because, “The limits of your language are the limits of your world.” (Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus)

About Dr. Zekeh S. Gbotokuma
Dr. Zekeh S. Gbotokuma is a polyglot and a US citizen of Congolese descent who refers to himself as a cosmocitizen. After twelve years of education and work in Europe, he is currently an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, and the founding President of Polyglots in Action for Diversity, Inc. He is the former Director of the Center for Global Studies at Morgan State University. His “extraordinary commitment to global learning and international understanding” made him the recipient of the prestigious Dr. Sandye Jean McIntyre, II International Award 2008. His publications include Global Safari (2015), OBAMÆNON (2011), A Pan-African Encyclopedia (2003), and Dizionario Italiano-Lingala/ Lingala-Italiano (1990).